Hmm - the Sierra Nevada is good, Shiner Bock, Guinness of course - I'll drink Yuengling when I want to be cheap (it's a local beer here so available pretty much anywhere you go). Stella is alright as well.

You have some breweries I really like but didn't list my favorite beer from them (i.e. I prefer Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale to their Porter).

Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 13:39

Slartibartfast wrote:

So those of us who don't like beer are pretty much irrelevant.

Yeah, that's pretty much the case.

Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 13:45

Chimay is absolute nectar. Lots of good ones on your list.

-------------Biggles was in rehab last Saturday

Posted By: Plankowner
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 14:04

When I used to drink, it was Killian's .. though I really like grolsch and certainly had my share of guiness

Posted By: The Pessimist
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 14:18

And it's about time!

Guiness Draught for me, although it's technically not a beer, correct if i'm wrong.

I do love Peterman Artois however, Coors is also very nice

-------------"Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value."

Arnold Schoenberg

Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 14:45

Believe me, there were a lot of other choices I had to leave off.

Sorry "non-alcoholic" beverages all got the axe, I really am.

Posted By: LinusW
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 15:18

I like to taste new beers/ales/whatever as often as possible, but those on the list I regularly drink and enjoy are: Newcastle Brown Ale, Guiness, Hoegaarden and Chimay.

Guess I'm a sucker for Belgium, uh? Still trying to get my hands on one of these:

Other favorites include:

Carlsberg from Denmark

Sagres from Portugal

Sagres Bohemia from Portugal

Cobra from India

Erdinger from Bavaria

Franziskaner from Bavaria

Guiness from Ireland

Kilkenny from Ireland

Murphy's from Ireland

Alexander Keith's from Canada

Kokanee from Canada

-------------Bigger on the inside.

Posted By: jimidom
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 15:35

What? No Heineken?

Oh well... I guess I'll cast my vote for that great beer brewed in my home state.

There are some excellent brews on this list, especially Newcastle, Bass, Stella, and Chimay.

-------------"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - HST

Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 15:45

I just do crack.

-------------

Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 15:46

Vibrationbaby wrote:

I just do crack.

No wonder you're always misplacing threads.

Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 15:47

Once more I realise I live in the right country

Chimay is my favourite beer. I buy that one often.

Posted By: ProgBagel
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 15:48

Keystone....I hate beer.

Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 15:49

ProgBagel wrote:

Keystone....I hate beer.

Of course you do, you're drinking Keystone!

Posted By: moreitsythanyou
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 16:13

I'm boycotting this thread because O'Douls is not an option

-------------butts, lol

Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 16:28

Being Italian, I am more of a wine drinker (and a very moderate one at that, though I love good wine), but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy good beer. The Belgians know what they're about, and my absolute favourite of their creations is the cherry-flavoured kriek (made with REAL cherries). Bliss!

And by the way, I'll drink it, but Heineken isn't even in my top fifty.

Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 18:17

I see you've got Red Stripe (I'll have a dark and stormy with Goslings instead) and left out Corona, which doesn't get high marks amongst the Beer enthusiast I know.

-------------

Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 19:07

^ no pan galactic gargle blasters today then Brian

-------------"You know what uranium is, right?It’s this thing called nuclear weapons. And other things. Like lots of things are done with uranium. Including some bad things.But nobody talks about that."

Posted By: Equality 7-2521
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 19:15

EDIT:

Guinness and Smithwicks are my two favorites.

If I'm drinking an American beer it's either Yards or Yuengling.

-------------"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "

Posted By: zappaholic
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 19:18

The official soundtrack for this thread:

http://www.rathergood.com/beer/ - http://www.rathergood.com/beer/

-------------"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken

-------------"You know what uranium is, right?It’s this thing called nuclear weapons. And other things. Like lots of things are done with uranium. Including some bad things.But nobody talks about that."

Posted By: darkmatter
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 19:42

ProgBagel wrote:

Keystone....I hate beer.

I had half a can of Keystone over the weekend and I felt like I would've vomited if I had any more.

I'm not really a beer person, although I think the most highly regarded beer out of the beer I've ever had is Yuengling, and I didn't care for it really.... I would like to try some "better" beers though.

Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 20:43

Equality 7-2521 wrote:

Pabst Blue Ribbon and Natty Lite are my two favorite.

It seems the poll is full of more "refined" options though so I guess I'll be choosing Guinness. Though in the more upscale realm, Smithwick's would be my brew of choice.

Oh trust me, I've been drinking plenty of Natty and the Beast since I lost my job. These are beers for an ideal world, however.

Maybe Obama will give us Americans free beer instead of healthcare.

Posted By: Jozef
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 21:28

I enjoy Yuengling personally.

-------------

Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 24 2008 at 22:50

I like a little Smithwicks along with my crack.

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Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 00:48

Out of these, I had to go with Guinness. Absolutely love the stuff. I do have a 6 pack of Hoegaarden in the fridge that I've been enjoying.

Actually, my favorite at the moment is Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat (seasonal summer beer). It's got the most unique flavor that is sooooo smooth.

E

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Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 01:43

Chimay owns from this list.

After visiting Germany I have found that Widmer is kind of a chump weisbeir. Try these, they're available in the states from BevMo.

-------------There is no act more pretentious and self-indulgent than labeling another's art as pretentious and self-indulgent.Always copy to clipboard before clicking Post Reply.

Posted By: keiser willhelm
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 02:07

ha ha how is red stripe on here? lol

being in college i usually only drink natty lite or busch lite but thats only because i cant afford classy beers like bud lite

Ive had Guiness once before and it was absolutely disgusting and i dont really understand how its winning the poll! i just got back from uptown and had a blue moon with orange. delicious! ill vote for that. however the best beer ive had was from the great lakes brewery (from michigan) that was a pale ale. it was heavy so i wouldnt plan on going out and getting drunk off it but it was really really good with a steak. mmmm.

Plus so many others, courtesy of my local pub (voted pub of the year 3 years running so far):

-------------Jon Lord 1941 - 2012

Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 02:47

The T wrote:

Beer is overrated...

Seconded! (if you actually meant it )

-------------

Posted By: martinprog77
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 03:34

-------------Nothing can last
there are no second chances.
Never give a day away.
Always live for today.

Posted By: easytargets
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 03:56

I´ve voted for Guinness, but I usually drink some average spanish beers - San Miguel and Mahou -, and from time to time the excellent Voll Damm (7,2º), an extraordinary brew with some dangers if you´re over 5 drinks

-------------The water rushes over all
cities crash in the mighty wave;
the final man is very small,
plunging in for his final bathe

Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 04:10

Jim Garten wrote:

Plus so many others, courtesy of my local pub (voted pub of the year 3 years running so far):

CAMRA's Champion Beer of Britain 2008

-------------"You know what uranium is, right?It’s this thing called nuclear weapons. And other things. Like lots of things are done with uranium. Including some bad things.But nobody talks about that."

Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 07:29

-------------

Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 07:55

From this list: Chimay Bleue.

The best beers come from Belgium or nearby. I recommend, among others, Hertog Jan Grand Prestige or Karakter (from the Netherlands) and Weihenstephaner (Germany), but my very favourite is Liefmans Goudenband (Belgium) and Kriek Liefmans as a close second.

Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 08:04

The cool thing about Chimay is the fact that Trappist monks in Belgium brew it to support themselves and their good causes. So remember, when you buy a bottle of Chimay, you're supporting God's work!

Posted By: johnobvious
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 08:17

Beer is like prog. You want to try it all but it is not really possible so you will always be a little sad that you could not experience everything each has to offer.

-------------Biggles was in rehab last Saturday

Posted By: Alberto Muñoz
Date Posted: November 25 2008 at 11:04

In my country México we have excellent beers:

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Posted By: King of Loss
Date Posted: November 27 2008 at 17:43

Chimay Bleue definitely. Its a class above even most really good beers (Stella, Guinness, Newcastle, etc.)

-------------

Zizou 1988-2006

Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: November 27 2008 at 17:50

Tyskie. Yum! Second favorite Pilsner Urquel.

Of those listed...Newcastle.

-------------I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you?

Posted By: martinprog77
Date Posted: November 27 2008 at 19:02

i love this beer .

and is not really expensive [ a 18 pack is cheeper that a 6 pack of newcastle ]

-------------Nothing can last
there are no second chances.
Never give a day away.
Always live for today.

Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: November 27 2008 at 23:58

Got to love the ad bot. Across the top of the screen is "Guiness Beer Diet!"

I've tried it. Almost as effective as the "3 loaves of bread diet"

-------------There is no act more pretentious and self-indulgent than labeling another's art as pretentious and self-indulgent.Always copy to clipboard before clicking Post Reply.

Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: November 28 2008 at 02:10

Although I'm a confirmed warm-beer-with-mud-and-sticks-in-it drinker, the one on the list above which I'll often go for is the Hoegarden White/Weiss/Wheat beer - tastes great, even when ice cold.

-------------Jon Lord 1941 - 2012

Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: November 28 2008 at 13:45

I'm not much of a beer-drinker (Since i'm too young to legally drink).But i enjoy most of the ones i've tried (mostly swedish ones).

Norrlands Guldis probably my favorite

Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: November 28 2008 at 22:11

When telling people what beer I drink , they go " you're drinking what?' - "sss Leffe" . Yeah, it funnier after after they've had a few.Seriously - Quebec - La Fin du Monde & la Blanche de Chambly, France - Fischer, Denmark - Faxe (the 10% one), New Brunswick - most of my 8-10% homebrews (Dry Lager, Blonde, IPA), and the craft brewery down my street - the Pumphouse Brewery with their Scotch Ale, Cadian, and one I've never tasted - their blueberry ale.I'll come back once I check my basement and the empties.

-------------"Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case.

Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 28 2008 at 22:44

debrewguy wrote:

When telling people what beer I drink , they go " you're drinking what?' - "sss Leffe" . Yeah, it funnier after after they've had a few.Seriously - Quebec - La Fin du Monde & la Blanche de Chambly, France - Fischer, Denmark - Faxe (the 10% one), New Brunswick - most of my 8-10% homebrews (Dry Lager, Blonde, IPA), and the craft brewery down my street - the Pumphouse Brewery with their Scotch Ale, Cadian, and one I've never tasted - their blueberry ale.I'll come back once I check my basement and the empties.

Some tasty beers listed there for sure, DBG.

I have had the Pumphouse Blueberry (several six packs, all told), and I find it to be a very nice, refreshing "summer starter" beer. (That is, not one to drink long into the night, but a very nice beer to start with, for one or two, when the sun is out.) Don't let the "blueberry" aspect put you off: the blueberry flavour is very subtle (yet definitely there), all natural, and not at all cloying or sweet (as is the case with some fruit beers). In short, it is not too "girly:"

I have shared this beer with my friends, PA's Jim & Vicky Garten, and they really liked it too. We have sought it out and enjoyed it for two summers now, when vacationing together in Newfoundland.

Just now, I'm sampling an "Ontario Craft Brewers" variety six-pack, and the current one is "Nickel Brook Green Apple Pilsener." This is a light beer, with the usual natural ingredients, plus apple juice, and this fruit beer, while not bad, is rather too sweet and "girly," for my tastes.

I'll try the Elora Irish Ale next -- see if that "mans up" the equation at all....

I like many beers from all over -- I'm always looking for something new, and I look for taste, and all-natural ingredients -- but on this list, I'll raise a glass to the very tasty Hoegaarden Weisse. I even have a Hoegaarden glass! (I collect beer glasses.)

I notice everyone is being polite to the Pist Pabst Blue Ribbon drinker. Far be it from me to be otherwise....

I have had the Pumphouse Blueberry... I have shared this beer with my friends, PA's Jim & Vicky Garten, and they really liked it too. We have sought it out and enjoyed it for two summers now, when vacationing together in Newfoundland.

Definitely one of my favorites from 'The Rock' (well, technically Nova Scotia?? ), but as you say, definitely a one-or-two in the afternoon beer (I find the blueberry flavour tends to take over after that)

But talking of Nfld - how could I not recommend my favorite tipple from that glorious isle?:

Proof positive that ice cold beer need not be flavour free!

Peter wrote:

I like many beers from all over - I'm always looking for something new, and I look for taste, and all-natural ingredients -- but on this list, I'll raise a glass to the very tasty Hoegaarden Weisse

Don't laugh, but try it with a slice of lemon; that really works.

-------------Jon Lord 1941 - 2012

Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: December 03 2008 at 14:22

I'm enjoying a nice Dunkel Wiesse right now.

Posted By: keiser willhelm
Date Posted: December 03 2008 at 14:26

just had a blue moon again last night an am still surprised by the lack of enthusiasm for it here. tasted like a slice of orange-y heaven.

Very Anglo selection you got there; being from LA, as I am, we have a plethora of Mexican beers to chosoe from as well. That said, my favorite beer is probably the Japanese beer Sapparo (sic?); of the beers listed above...hmm...Newcastle, I think. And I'm not usually an ale man, but Newcastle is definitely among my favorite of beers.

Special nods to Red Stripe, which despite my friends opinions, I find easy to drink, and Shriner, which is also (if memory serves) a good beer. Ha.

-------------"There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson

Posted By: The Miracle
Date Posted: December 08 2008 at 14:01

Heineken, Blue Moon and Corona are my top 3 right now... it changes all the time though, I'm as open minded towards beer as I am to music I usually prefer light stuff (color wise, not "light" beer), though I quite liked the Shiner stuff, but not so much Newcastle.

------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook

Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 09 2008 at 21:04

^ Yes Toaster, stout is very good -- but there are good and "real" beers in all of the beer "genres."

I had a very tasty porter on the weekend. If you can find this one (should be easy if you're in Ontario, like me), give it a go:

Mill St. Coffee Porter -- good for shovelling snow!

Yes, it really has coffee in it, but it doesn't overwhelm the beer.

(Mill St. won an award as Canada's best craft brewer in 2007, BTW -- all of their beers are top notch. Their "Tankhouse Ale" is also especially tasty. Nice painted bottles, too. )

Did you know that "porter" got its name from the stevedores or "porters" who worked the London dockside, carrying passengers' heavy loads for hire? These stout labourers favoured strong, flavourful beers, and the burst of hearty energy they imparted. I appreciate porter when shovelling in the -20C snow, I can tell you!

I have had other stouts and porters with black cherry, oysters, oatmeal, and chocolate. This one is a delicious example of the latter exotic treat:

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

A winter treat from England. There really is chocolate added, but as with the Mill St., the addition doesn't overwhelm, but complements the flavourful roasty-toasty quality of the stout

Good for Christmas sipping!

Finally, here is another nice beer from "across the pond" -- I bet many of our British friends on PA will know it, and appreciate it. I found it to be very fresh, very smooth, very refreshing -- and organic! V

Oxford Gold 4.0%

English Target hops give this beer a remarkable aroma. Late hopping with Goldings and fermentation by the Brakspear yeast creates a remarkable zesty aroma, a full fruity flavour and a golden colour. All Hops and Barley used in this beer are organically grown and produced.

Youngs Double Chocolate Stout is definitely in my top 10 beers of all time, as is the following:

Dark, rich, full of flavour - just as good on gravity from the cask or bottled (actually works quite well cold too, which a lot of "proper" beers don't) - Highly recommended.

-------------Jon Lord 1941 - 2012

Posted By: DavetheSlave
Date Posted: December 10 2008 at 06:52

Hey! You Guys! You don't have any South African beers in the list when they are very highly regarded. Good old Lion Lager and Castle Lager.

-------------I'm a normal psychopath

Posted By: LinusW
Date Posted: December 10 2008 at 07:56

Peter wrote:

Finally, here is another nice beer from "across the pond" -- I bet many of our British friends on PA will know it, and appreciate it. I found it to be very fresh, very smooth, very refreshing -- and organic! V

Oxford Gold 4.0%

English Target hops give this beer a remarkable aroma. Late hopping with Goldings and fermentation by the Brakspear yeast creates a remarkable zesty aroma, a full fruity flavour and a golden colour. All Hops and Barley used in this beer are organically grown and produced.

One of my favourites when I want all the qualities you mention. Discovered it during spring and it's a regular in my "beer batches"

Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: December 10 2008 at 08:01

Raff wrote:

Being Italian, I am more of a wine drinker (and a very moderate one at that, though I love good wine), but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy good beer. The Belgians know what they're about, and my absolute favourite of their creations is the cherry-flavoured kriek (made with REAL cherries). Bliss!

I agree with this. Liefmans is the best kriek. And if you like kriek, I can also recommend gueuze. It is not made with cherries, not even red, but in their other properties these beers have some kinship. Gueuze and kriek are known as lambic or spontaneous fermenting beers.

Posted By: June
Date Posted: December 11 2008 at 19:53

Tuborg and Carlsberg (sticking to my roots, although Tuborg is harder to find here) preferably, love Keith's Pale Ale too, Rickard's Red goes down like juice, it's also hard to resist, so does Sleeman's Honey Brown, and I do love me a cold nice Blanche De Chambly on a hot summer day too.

Although... I've once had the good luck of enjoying a Pilsner Urquell fresh from the tap in a pub in Prag, and that was probably the best beer I've ever had. Not half as good once exported, I found out later.

Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: December 12 2008 at 10:40

I find the exported Pilsner acquires a rather "skunky" taste.

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Posted By: sean
Date Posted: December 12 2008 at 22:02

I'm the boring one who likes to keep the alcohol out of his drinks, so i go either root beer or birch beer

Posted By: June
Date Posted: December 13 2008 at 15:19

sean wrote:

I'm the boring one who likes to keep the alcohol out of his drinks, so i go either root beer or birch beer

Birch beer? I actually had to look that up... didn't even know that existed. I've had something that I guess is called "spruce beer" in English, and boy that was awful. Does birch beer taste anything like that?

Posted By: sean
Date Posted: December 13 2008 at 15:39

June wrote:

[QUOTE=sean]I'm the boring one who likes to keep the alcohol out of his drinks, so i go either root beer or birch beer

Birch beer? I actually had to look that up... didn't even know that existed. I've had something that I guess is called "spruce beer" in English, and boy that was awful. Does birch beer taste anything like that?

[/QUOTE

I've never had spruce beer but if it was awful then birch beer wouldn't taste like it. birch beer is a soda that is among my favourites, and I don't even like soda very much.

Posted By: Mikerinos
Date Posted: December 13 2008 at 16:37

June wrote:

sean wrote:

I'm the boring one who likes to keep the alcohol out of his drinks, so i go either root beer or birch beer

Birch beer? I actually had to look that up... didn't even know that existed. I've had something that I guess is called "spruce beer" in English, and boy that was awful. Does birch beer taste anything like that?

Birch beer is pretty similar to root beer, but a bit stronger. I remember once my friend bought some ginger beer since it was cheap and it totally sucked.

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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: December 13 2008 at 16:44

Raff and I had a beer at some pizza joint in Georgetown today that was LIGHTS out

Beer hmmm if its yellow then it ent Beer some my Favs are Abbot Ale London Pride Bishops Finger Old speckle Hen Hobgoblin Otter Ale to name a few

Cheers

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Posted By: Philip
Date Posted: December 14 2008 at 10:34

Portuguese Super Bock!

Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: December 14 2008 at 10:46

Hawkwise wrote:

Abbot Ale Old speckle Hen

Sadly neither beers are what they were - Green King (or Greedy King as they are oft known) have become the pariahs of real ale acting like the Borg of brewers, assimilating dozens of smaller breweries and closing them down. I can never forgive them for what they did to Ruddles County either

-------------"You know what uranium is, right?It’s this thing called nuclear weapons. And other things. Like lots of things are done with uranium. Including some bad things.But nobody talks about that."

Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: December 14 2008 at 21:37

micky wrote:

Raff and I had a beer at some pizza joint in Georgetown today that was LIGHTS out